Aster plant named ‘Bridal Veil’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Aster , ‘Bridal Veil’, characterized by its spreading and weeping plant habit, its numerous large white capitula, its mature height of about 60 cm (24 inches) and spread of about 1.4 m (54 inches), its good resistance to rust and powdery mildew, and its hardiness in at least U.S.D.A. Zones 5 to 7.

Botanical classification: Symphyotrichum hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Bridal Veil’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofSymphyotrichum hybrid (previously Aster hybrid), botanically known asSymphyotrichum ‘Bridal Veil’, and will be referred to hereafter by itscultivar name, ‘Bridal Veil’. ‘Bridal Veil’ is a new herbaceousperennial suitable for landscape plantings.

The new cultivar is the result of a controlled breeding programconducted by the Inventors in Glencoe, Ill. The intent of the program isto develop new cultivars of Aster that are hardy in U.S.D.A. Zone 5,disease resistant, and adaptable to typical landscape growingconditions. The new cultivar arose from a self-pollination of ‘SnowFlurry’ (not patented) in October of 2002. ‘Bridal Veil’ was selected asa single unique plant from the resulting seedlings of the cross inOctober of 2007.

The new cultivar was first asexually propagated by shoot tip cuttings byone of the Inventors in Glencoe, Ill. in June of 2008. Asexualpropagation has determined that the characteristics of this cultivar arestable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent thecharacteristics of the new Aster. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Bridal Veil’ as a unique cultivar of Aster.

-   -   1. ‘Bridal Veil’ exhibits a spreading and weeping plant habit.    -   2. ‘Bridal Veil’ exhibits numerous large white capitula.    -   3. ‘Bridal Veil’ reaches a mature height of about 60 cm (24        inches) and a spread of about 1.4 m (54 inches).    -   4. ‘Bridal Veil’ has shown good resistance to rust and powdery        mildew when grown in comparison trials with other cultivars of        Aster.    -   5. ‘Bridal Veil’ is hardy in at least U.S.D.A. Zones 5 to 7.

The new cultivar of Aster can be readily distinguished from othercultivars of Aster known to the Inventors. The seed parent of ‘BridalVeil’, ‘Snow Flurry’, differs from ‘Bridal Veil’ in being shorter inheight, in having a prostrate plant habit, and in having smallercapitula. ‘Bridal Veil’ can be most closely compared to Symphyotrichumericoides ‘First Snow’ (not patented) and Symphyotrichum pilosum var.pringlei ‘Monte Cassino’ (not patented). Both cultivars are similar to‘Bridal Veil’ in having a profusion of white capitula in September andOctober in northern Illinois (U.S.D.A. zone 5a). ‘First Snow’ differsfrom ‘Bridal Veil’ in having upright stems that form an irregularmounded plant habit that is less spreading. ‘Monte Cassino’ differs from‘Bridal Veil’ in having upright stems with an upright and mounded planthabit, in being taller in height and less spreading, and in havingsmaller capitula.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of a five year-old plant of the new Asteras grown outdoors in a trial plot in Glencoe, Ill.

FIG. 1 was taken in October and provides a view of the plant habit of‘Bridal Veil’ in bloom.

FIG. 2 was taken in October and provides a view of the inflorescences of‘Bridal Veil’.

FIG. 3 was taken in July and provides a view of the branches of ‘BridalVeil’. The colors in the photographs are as close as possible withdigital photography techniques available, the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the newAster.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a description of one year old plants of the newcultivar as grown outdoors in 2-quart containers. The description of theplant habit and mature height and spread were observed on 5 year-oldplants of the new cultivar as grown in a trial bed in Glencoe, Ill. Thephenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental,climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under allpossible environmental conditions. The color determination is inaccordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal HorticulturalSociety, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming season.—Third week of September until the end of            October with two weeks of peak bloom (almost 100%            inflorescence coverage) in early October in northern            Illinois.        -   Plant habit.—Herbaceous perennial, initially upright early            in the season and becoming lateral then pendulous (weeping)            and spreading.        -   Height and spread.—Reaches a height of about 60 cm (24            inches) and a spread of about 1.4 m (54 inches) in five            years of growth.        -   Hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zones 5 to 7.        -   Diseases resistance.—Has shown good resistance to rust and            powdery mildew when grown in comparison trials with other            cultivars of Aster.        -   Root description.—Fibrous.        -   Propagation.—Shoot tip cuttings, very high rooting rate.        -   Growth rate.—Vigorous in comparison to its seed parent.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem color.—New growth 144A, mature growth 165A.        -   Stem surface.—Pubescent.        -   Stem size.—Main stem; about 30 cm in length and 2.5 mm in            width, lateral branches; variable with an average of 15 cm            in length and 1 mm in width, flowering branchlets; an            average of 1.7 cm in length and 0.8 mm in width.        -   Branching habit.—Main stem with an average of 15 horizontal            lateral branches merging from main stem with an average of            12 branchlets per stem 9 cm in length.        -   Branch internode length.—Average of 5 mm between lateral            branches and branchlets.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf shape.—Linear.        -   Leaf base.—Truncate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Internode length.—Average of 3 mm.        -   Leaf venation.—Linear, not conspicuous, midrib recessed on            upper surface, color same as leaf.        -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.        -   Leaf number.—Average of 6 per 2 cm in stem length.        -   Leaf surface.—Glabrous and satiny on upper and lower            surface.        -   Leaf color.—Young and mature, upper and lower surface; 138A.        -   Leaf size (fully expanded).—Average of 9 mm in length and            1.5 cm in width.        -   Leaf fragrance.—None.-   Flower description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Composite, 1 to 3 capitula per flowering            branchlet.        -   Lastingness of individual capitula.—Temperature dependent,            under normal field conditions during the fall, typically            last about 2 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Quantity of capitula.—About 600 per plant in a 2-quart            container.        -   Capitula buds.—About 6 mm in depth and 3.5 mm in diameter,            oblong in shape, 144A in color with apex NN155B.        -   Capitula size.—About 1.8 cm in diameter and 7 mm in depth,            diameter of disk about 5 mm.        -   Peduncle.—Held at about a 45° angle to flowering branchlet,            texture is pubescent, an average of 5 mm in length and 0.8            mm in width, color is 144A and slightly suffused with 165A,            an average of 4 leaves, similar in characteristics to            branchlet leaves.        -   Involucral bracts (phyllaries).—About 14, 138A in color,            spatulate in shape, about 3 mm in length and 1 mm in width,            puberulent surface.-   Ray florets (pistillate):    -   -   Number.—Average of 14.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Aspect.—Primarily horizontal.        -   Size.—Average of 7 mm in length and 2 mm in width.        -   Petal apex.—Rounded.        -   Petal base.—Attenuate.        -   Petal margins.—Entire.        -   Petal texture.—Smooth, glabrous on upper and lower surface.        -   Petal color.—Opening and mature; upper and lower surface:            NN155B.-   Disk florets (perfect):    -   -   Quantity.—Average of 60.        -   Shape.—Tubular.        -   Size.—About 6 mm in length and 1 mm in width.        -   Color.—145D.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Presence.—Disk flowers are perfect, ray flowers are            carpellate.        -   Gynoecium.—1 Pistil per disk and ray floret, style is 6 mm            in length and 145D in color.        -   Androecium.—5 stamens per disk floret, fused into tube,            anther is 165C in color with filament 145D in color, pollen            was not observed.        -   Fruit and seed.—None observed.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Aster plant named‘Bridal Veil’ as described and illustrated herein.